Los Banos, CA (January 14, 2026) — San Luis reservoir continues to fill up at a rate of 7-8,000 acre feet a day- raising the lake level to about ¾’ a day. The total storage is now about 1,495,000 acre feet putting it around 51’ from capacity. It looks like we may actually get a full reservoir to fish this spring at the rate it’s going so far.
I would say that the overall bite has improved, but the action has been sporadic at times- with several bigger stripers- up to as much as 42” and 32 lbs coming on cast swimbaits. The 32 lber was released, but another reported 15 lb fish was taken by a shore angler.
The main action has centered around Portuguese Cove for trollers as well as bank casters working ripbaits , topwater and swimbaits for potential limits of school sized fish – as well as the occasional bigger fish. Trollers have been working the flats in the 40 to 80’ depth range with Smithwicks, Rapalas and Lucky Crafts for fish in the 20-25” range. Finding the baitballs and the schools working them is the key to better scores right now.
Water temps are holding in the 58-59 degree range and the fish are more active and feeding than I’ve seen for sometime.
I guided a guest on Monday , and we picked up (released all) over 30 schoolfish – to 26” , as well as a fat 33”, 14 lb guppy of a striper once I developed a working pattern in the main lake . Most of the fish came on 6” Lucky Crafts in Shad colors.
I’ve found that the stripers are tending to be deeper once the sun comes up- and you need to adjust your tactics if trolling.
Conditions at the lake- as well as a stable weather pattern right now seem to be helping the bite. Coves are holding fish but you may need to experiment to find the right size, colors and action to get bit.
Downrigging and working the shorelines can be effective right now as the fish chase bait.
I think we’re going to have a good year judging from the start of 2026! Practice catch and release- it’s our future!
Interested in a trip? Let me know! Go to my website at www.rogergeorgeguideservice.com or call (559) 905-2954.
My recently posted YouTube video on the new “Catch America “ channel – about fishing San Luis for monster stripers has gotten over14,000 views in less than 2 weeks . In the video we released a nice 26 lb trophy.
